2015 FRC Season – FIRST Recycle Rush

Recycle Rush involves picking up and stacking totes on scoring platforms, putting pool noodles (“litter”) inside recycling containers, and putting the containers on top of scoring stacks of totes. There is also a coopertition aspect of the game where both alliances of teams can pool their totes and stack them on a step dividing the field to each gain twenty points. Along with these robot actions, human players can attempt to throw the pool noodles across the field to gain four points for each noodle left in the opposing alliance’s work zone. More Information can be found on Wikipedia .

Specs of robot

Name – Nighthawk

Robot CodeGithub

CAD – Unavailable

Robot Abilities

For the fifth consecutive year, we used our mecanum wheel system as our drivetrain. To pick up and stack the totes and garbage bins, Nighthawk had two pneumatic powered claws, one on the top of the robot and the other on the bottom. The bottom claw was attached to a metal column that allowed vertical movement. The top claw was useful in holding the trash bin in place while the totes were being stacked. With the two claws and its tall height, Nighthawk was able to successfully stack 6 totes and a trash bin on top of it, maximizing the potential points in game.

Where we competed

  • Los Angeles Regional
    • Rank 27 with an average qual score of 46.33
  • Ventura Regional
    • Rank 34 with an average qual score of 57.08
  • Archimedes Division
    • Rank 75 with an average qual score of 72.00

Results

Nighthawk was able to successfully stack 6 totes with a bin on top in several competitions, but often had a difficult time if it or the totes were even slightly misaligned. Originally, it also had a problem with tipping due to its uneven weight distribution, with was later fixed with the addition of a back wheel.

ToDo for this page

  • robot photo
  • fix game logo size